Jussi Niva - Recent works

Galerie Forsblom January 13 – February 5, 2012

Opening Reception January 12 from 5 to 7 pm.

With his large oil paintings the painter Jussi Niva (b. 1966) opens Galerie Forsblom’s exhibition season for 2012. Niva is fascinated by how painting has the ability to bring forth concepts about space, time and perception. His works present the concept of space in such a way that it includes the viewer as part of the event taking place at a certain time. As a result of the mimesis effect the painting stimulates to different ways of viewing.

In his most recent works Niva has included the previous movement and time and made the reflection of these, part of the structure. In Niva’s work the concept of space is created simultaneously by the volume of the surface and the ostensible image. Standing by the painting the viewer experiences an undefined state of mind, which in turn makes it possible to tune into the sense of space. Jussi Niva points out that the painting isn’t a window but merely an experience formed by the viewer and an impression of this action can be seen in the painting. The viewing itself becomes an action that may be compared to a performance.

Niva dismantles the impressions of what is seemingly figurative and abstract into fragments and he challenges the viewer to rebuild the sense of space. The works that are created by the use of strong colours and contrasts are like three dimensional compositions unfolded in a two dimensional plane. The works contain something familiar yet something confusingly strong and foreign. The artist guides the viewer to take different perspectives and builds up the three dimensional impression by the use of disconnections and borders. A major part of the exhibited works belongs to the series called “Frontiers” while some belong to the one called “Misplaced”.

Jussi Niva was born in Pello and graduated from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 1988. In 1992 he became the first ever Finn to participate in the Documenta in Germany and in 1993 he represented Finland in the Venice Biennale. Niva has also taken part in the Ars 95 exhibition in Helsinki and in “Europe - Different Perspectives in Painting” group exhibition, which was held in Francavilla al Mare in Italy in 2000. In 1998 and 2008 Niva took part of the Carnegie Art Award tours. Niva’s work can be found, in several significant Finnish collections but also in numerous Swedish public and private collections. Some of his works are also on public display, e.g. “M in US” which was completed in 2010. This particular piece was the result of a victory in a contest by invitation only, conducted by the property company Vasakronan and is currently located in Kv Spektern’s office building in Stockholm. Jussi Niva lives and works in Helsinki.